The Galapagos Population Today – Do people live on the Galapagos Islands. Currently, four islands are inhabited, with a total of around 30,000 inhabitants. The largest ethnic group is Ecuadorian Mestizos. In 1959, only 1,000 to 2,000 people lived on the islands, growing to 15,000 by the 1980s. Can you move to the Galapagos Islands? […]

The Galápagos Islands are located near the equator, yet they receive cool ocean currents.His observations of wildlife on the island inspired his theory of evolution by natural selection. Today, scientists study the archipelago’s aquatic ecosystems as well. Why is the Galapagos island significant? Facts. Six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador lie the volcanic […]

The Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is the only penguin species to live in the Northern Hemisphere. Environmental conditions make the Galápagos a unique island ecosystem. The Galápagos Islands are located near the equator, yet they receive cool ocean currents. How far are the Galapagos Islands from the equator? How far is Galapagos from the equator […]

islands were named for the tortoises (Spanish galapagos) who live there; discovered by Europeans in 1535. What language is Galapagos? SpanishThe official language of the Galapagos Islands is Spanish. However due to the recent upswing in tourism, the Galapagos Islands have become one of the most multilingual destinations in South America, with guides, hoteliers, and […]

Galapagos sharks consume crustaceans, mollusks, and fishes, but they have been known to eat or attack marine reptiles, sea lions, seals, and trash. What fish do Galapagos sharks eat? The primary food of Galapagos sharks are benthic bony fishes (including eels, sea bass, flatfish, flatheads, and triggerfish) and octopuses. They also occasionally take surface-dwelling prey […]

Three types of endemic cacti dominate the landscape here; lava, candelabra, and prickly pear, the staple diet of land iguanas and giant tortoises. What kind of plants and animals are endemic to the Galapagos Islands? Galapagos is famous for its high number of endemic species such as the Galapagos giant tortoise, marine iguana, daisy trees […]

On the Galapagos Islands, Darwin also saw several different types of finch, a different species on each island. He noticed that each finch species had a different type of beak, depending on the food available on its island.Finches that ate small nuts and seeds had beaks for cracking nuts and seeds. Why were the finches […]

The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the highest levels of endemism (species found nowhere else on earth) anywhere on the planet. About 80% of the land birds you will see, 97% of the reptiles and land mammals, and more than 30% of the plants are endemic. Why does the Galapagos Islands have high […]

20 Fun Facts about the Galapagos Islands 97 % of the Galapagos is a national park. Galapagos has active volcanos. The number of islands is up for debate. Three varieties of colorful boobies (seabirds) Penguins in the Northern Hemisphere?!? Marine iguanas are excellent swimmers. Any time is a great time to visit. Did you know […]

Galapagos is located on the Nazca tectonic plate. This perpetually moving plate is heading eastward over the Galapagos hot spot and has formed the chain of islands. The islands were formed through the layering and lifting of repeated volcanic action. How did life begin on the Galapagos Islands? To start with the basics, the Galápagos […]

Other types of marine life found in Galapagos include: Crabs, shrimps and lobsters. Sea shells, sea slugs, squids and octopuses. Sea urchins, starfishes and sea cucumbers. Corals, anenomes and jellyfish. Sponges, seaweed, algae and worms. How many marine species are in the Galapagos? 3,000 marine speciesGalapagos Islands. The Galapagos Marine Reserve is home to nearly […]

There are 13 different species of Darwin’s finches, and the slight variance of these species, which are believed to all be from the same ancestor, and their ability to adapt to the specific island of the Galapagos each call home is what helped Darwin hone his theories on evolution. Why are the Galapagos rich in […]

Location Maps – Galápagos hotspot (Galapagos Rift), Pacific Ocean Latitude & Longitude (WGS84): 0° 0′ North , 91° 55′ West Latitude & Longitude (Decimal Degrees): 0 , -91.916666666667 Latitude & Longitude (Degrees plus Decimal Minutes): 0° 0′, -91° 55′ Where is the Galapagos hotspot? The Galapagos hotspot (estimated to be around 150km wide) is located […]

Over time, Darwin began to wonder if species from South America had reached the Galapagos and then changed as they adapted to new environments. This idea—that species could change over time—eventually led to Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Why did animals on the Galapagos Islands change over time? Lamarck and Darwin agreed that […]

Range and Habitat Giant tortoises are found only on the Galapagos Islands and prefer to live in dry lowlands. They are found on the islands of Pinzon, Española and Isabela. In general, saddleback tortoises live in arid zones and feed mostly on cactus. What is the habitat of a tortoise? Tortoises live in a variety […]